BOULDER, Colo. � Last weekend was huge for the Buffaloes not only because they upset Oklahoma, but also because they picked up a commitment from one of the top in-state prospects on their board.

Will Pericak chose Colorado over scholarship offers from Colorado State, San Diego State and Air Force. A number of other programs, including Stanford and UCLA, were also showing interest in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound two-way standout from Boulder (Colo.) High.

Pericak has been all over the field making plays for the Panthers this season. Through five games, he has recorded 59 tackles, five quarterback sacks and he returned a fumble for a touchdown at linebacker. Offensively, Pericak has accounted for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns.

"He means everything to our team," said Boulder High head coach Spencer Colter. "He is our heart and soul. Everybody follows his lead. He has a great work ethic on and off the field. In the classroom, he just seems to do everything the right way and he does it 100 percent. Any recognition he is getting is well deserved and long overdue. He is a stud.

"No disrespect to Jon Major, who is a great player and is going to do great things at the next level, but Will is the best linebacker in the state and the best overall player in the state."

Coach Colter earned a letter at CU playing for Bill McCartney in 1991. What was his reaction to Pericak's college decision? "We have about three other former Buffs on the staff here too, so heck yeah everybody is excited about it and he ought to be excited about it to," Colter said. "I think Coach Hawkins has got them really going in the right direction so it's going to be a great program to be a part of in the coming years."

Ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's 31st best inside linebacker prospect from the Class of 2008, Pericak has the size and ability to play a number of different positions in college.

"I've heard CU might play him at tight end, possibly defensive end, but I see him as a linebacker," Colter said. "He has started at linebacker for me ever since he was a freshman and if I were his coach in college that is where I would play him. But he does have a lot of versatility."

After losing their first three games of the season, Pericak and his Boulder High teammates have bounced back with conference wins over Fairview and Overland. They will face a difficult challenge in Cherry Creek this Friday night. The game will be televised in the Denver area on Altitude.